What better way to experience the richness of Ireland's cultural heritage than a meandering journey through its traditional pubs? The Parting Glass is a nostalgic ramble through 43 of the most inviting establishments in the cities and countryside of Ireland. Eric Roth's warm, glowing photographs and a sparkling text by Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara capture the timeless feel and flavor of this intrinsic, but disappearing, part of Irish life.
Ireland's pubs are legendary-unique meeting places where revelers have habitually gathered to sing, dance, and share a little craic with their stout. Some of the pubs visited here are historic taverns; others are more contemporary. But all reflect the vibrancy and drama of the country's social history. Like many traditions entering a new century, Ireland's pub culture may now be endangered, even as the "Irish Pub" look and feel are being exported across Europe and America. This charming volume invites tourists, armchair travelers, and anyone interested in Irish history and culture to raise a "parting glass" to this cherished aspect of life in Ireland.
Author: Eric Roth
Author: Eileen McNamara
Publisher: "Stewart, Tabori and Chang"
Customer Reviews
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To Ireland!
Great book if you're planning a trip to Ireland or if you just want to enjoy a pint in your own living room!
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The Parting Glass
Great photography. Great for Irish conversation. Makes a great gift.
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Mouth watering tour of Ireland
This book is for those who want to be swept away on a marvelous journey through a land of incredible scenery interrupted by warm and friendly people invigorated by mouth watering blends of spirits served in the most welcoming places short of heaven.
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A four-leaf clover of a find!
This book made a wonderful gift for my husband this Christmas. He and I went to Ireland a few years ago to see a U2 concert at Slane castle. To this day, it remains one of my favorite vacations of all times, and this book rekindled those wonderful memories. So much so, that after browsing through the pages together, my husband and I are planning a return trip "across the pond" as a gift to each other! We're even planning some of our itenerary around these cool cities and pubs.
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<br />The photos are just beautiful and so are the stories of the owners, the bartenders, the patrons and pub histories. Neat facts are tucked in between the pages, making it more than a photo essay -- I learned that a special place called a "Snug" exists in the older pubs, where the women used to share a pint or two without the company
<br />of men.
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<br />If you are looking for an unusual and thoughtful gift, I recommend this book. It would make a wonderful father's day gift, (or mother's day gift!), it would be great as a birthday present, a graduation present, a coffee table book for a new homeowner, or for any other occassion where you want to raise a pint in celebration. Cheers!
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Photos on tap
When I'm in Ireland -- which isn't nearly enough -- I try to avoid the trendy new pubs and stick to the joints where the local people go, where you're still likely to find a session in the corner, where the food is simple but hearty, and where the Guinness is pulled with pride.
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<br />Eric Roth, a Boston-based photographer, pays tribute to the "real" Irish pubs of Ireland in "The Parting Glass." Of course, there are thousands upon thousands of pubs to choose from, and the book had limited space, so after exhaustive research (read: going to lots of pubs) he picked 43 representative establishments to capture on film. Eileen McNamara, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe columnist, went along for the trip and provided the text to support Roth's images.
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<br />Of course, I have my own favorite spots in Ireland, and sadly, they're not included here. And yet, of the 43 pictured, I've been to only a handful, and they ALL look a delight!
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<br />The book includes numerous large, colorful photos of pub facades and pub interiors. Too, you'll find distinctive pub signs and unique pub decor. Better yet, you'll see people manning taps and hoisting pints, people who make up Ireland's traditional pub scene as much as the Guinness-stained tables, peat fires, live music and pleasant conversation.
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<br />There are city pubs and country pubs, ornate pubs and plain, crowded and empty. Roth's photos are gorgeous, rich in color, detail and personality. McNamara's narrative is equally colorful, informative and evocative of the pub experience. Combined, they create a desire to dive through the pages, take a seat and order a pint.
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